Looking at a will

[puternut]

Is it possible to get a copy of any will?

Reason for asking is that my wifes godmother - see a tenuous connection to me - lost her brother a couple of months ago. At the after funeral do she was told she was to be a benificiary in his will - not sure who told her - but as her brother was not a millionaire she is not expecting life changing amount.

Since then she has heard nothing. And she would like to know if his last wishes have benn completed and if she was indeed a beneficiary.

Thanks for any advice as to what to do

pNut

[237SJ]

Once a will has gone to probate it`s a public document. Maybe it`s still going through the probate process and that`s why you haven`t heard

[Barmaid]

If you know the name of the deceased, his address and date of death, you can write to the Probate Registry and ask them if probate has been granted. If it has not, they will not be able to provide any details, but if you then do a Standing Search if probate is granted within 6 months they will send you a copy of the Will and the grant.

[factor-fiction]

Two months is probably too soon to hear anything. It can easily take over 6 months to track down all creditors, dispose of property where applicable, trace all accounts and life policies, etc. Some take over a year

[Buenchico]

As has been stated above:
(i) it's almost certainly too early for probate to have been granted on the estate ; and
(ii) your wife needs to enter a standing search with the Probate Registry. It only costs a fiver. See here:
http://www.hmcourts-s...e.gov.uk/cms/1211.htm

Chris